vivian kagwiria
Stories (7/0)
WRITERS
In the vast expanse of literary landscapes, where ink meets paper and words take flight, resides a special guild of individuals known as writers. These architects of imagination and sentiment hold a unique key to unlock doors to worlds unexplored. With pens as their chisels and keyboards as their canvases, writers embark on a journey to construct realms that captivate hearts and minds.
By vivian kagwiria4 months ago in Writers
PLACEBO PILLS
The mention of birth control immediately evokes thoughts of the ubiquitous birth control pill, a stalwart in the daily lives of countless women. The pill has become such a routine part of daily existence that the term "birth control pill" is often truncated to simply "the pill." However, beneath the veneer of commonplace acceptance lies a significant secret – the inclusion of placebo pills in the pill pack. These seemingly innocuous pills, devoid of the hormones present in the active pills, serve the purpose of inducing a monthly period. The surprising revelation prompts an exploration into the history, science, and societal implications of the birth control pill and its accompanying placebo pills. To comprehend the rationale behind the inclusion of placebo pills, it's crucial to first understand the menstrual cycle. Seeking clarity on this complex biological process, insights are sought from the internet's favorite gynecologist. The menstrual cycle is explained as a multifaceted sequence involving estrogen dominance in the first half, leading up to ovulation, and a progesterone-dependent phase in the latter half to support potential pregnancy. The birth control pill disrupts this cycle by using synthetic versions of estrogen and progesterone to prevent ovulation, thereby maintaining a stable uterine lining. The placebo pills, often dismissed as mere sugar pills, play a role in causing a sudden drop in progesterone, triggering the shedding of the uterine lining. However, it's emphasized that this shedding isn't a true menstruation since ovulation didn't occur. The inclusion of placebo pills is attributed to a desire for simplicity and providing women with a monthly reassurance of their non-pregnant status. The narrative then delves into the historical roots of the birth control pill. In the 1950s, research scientist Gregory Pincus and obstetrician-gynecologist John Rock collaborated to develop the pill. The post-World War II era witnessed a surge in early marriages and prolific childbirth, with couples completing their family planning in their late 20s. Pincus and Rock's initial pill design involved a 20 days on, 5 days off cycle, later modified to a 21 days on, 7 days off cycle by the time the pill hit the market in 1960. The inclusion of placebo pills was initially intended for simplicity, assuring women of their non-pregnant status through the monthly bleeding, avoiding any confusion or distress caused by a missed period. While there's a persistent myth about Dr. Rock including the pseudo period to appease the Catholic Church, it's clarified that the primary motivation was not religious but rather practical. Dr. Rock later leveraged the regularity of the pill cycle to argue for its acceptance by the Church. The societal impact of the birth control pill is then explored, highlighting its revolutionary nature. For the first time, women gained the power to independently control their fertility. The pill shifted the dynamics of contraception, transferring the responsibility from partners to women. However, the discussion notes the ongoing debate surrounding the pill's side effects. Despite its transformative impact, the pill is portrayed as an "old school" contraceptive method, with newer options gaining popularity. These modern methods still rely on hormonal technology but offer the added benefit of potentially stopping a woman's periods altogether. The conversation pivots to a contemporary perspective on skipping periods while on birth control. Medical professionals emphasize that it is safe to skip periods on birth control, debunking the misconception that it might be unhealthy. The idea of not menstruating is, however, met with resistance from a significant portion of the population, as revealed by a 2019 study. Societal attitudes and a longstanding tradition of monthly bleeding as an assurance of non-pregnancy contribute to this reluctance. The discussion closes by addressing the inertia in contraceptive research and development over the past seven decades. The traditional birth control pill remains a reliable source of income for pharmaceutical companies, and introducing new contraceptives involves significant research and development efforts, coupled with the risk of expensive lawsuits. The historical example of the Dalkin Shield IUD in the 1970s, which led to lawsuits and bankruptcy for the manufacturing company, serves as a cautionary tale.
By vivian kagwiria4 months ago in Families
BLACKHOLE
THE LIFE OF A BLACK HOLE Black holes are captivating celestial entities, defined by their powerful gravitational pull, so intense that even light cannot escape. Their invisible nature makes them challenging to observe directly, but their presence is detected through the profound impact they have on nearby matter and light. Today, let's explore the basics of black holes: what they are, how they form, and how they ultimately meet their end. At the heart of a black hole lies the event horizon, the point of no return where gravity is so extreme that anything crossing it, including light, is trapped. This invisibility raises the question of how we identify them. The answer lies in their influence on surrounding matter and light. By observing the radiation emitted by superheated matter forming an accretion disc around a black hole, we can indirectly detect their existence. This radiation, often likened to the Eye of Sauron, offers a glimpse into the otherwise unseen realm of black holes. Central to our understanding of black holes is Einstein's theory of general relativity, revealing how these cosmic anomalies warp space and time. The extent of this warping is determined by the mass at the black hole's core, encapsulated by the Schwarzschild radius. Anything compressed within this radius becomes a black hole, whether it's a star, planet, or even an entire galaxy. While the term "black hole" may evoke images of a cosmic vacuum cleaner, indiscriminately swallowing everything in its path, the reality is more nuanced. For a celestial body to succumb to a black hole, it must venture within the Schwarzschild radius. This means that, even if our Sun were magically replaced by a black hole of equal mass, the orbits of planets in our solar system would remain unaffected. The cataclysmic change would be the sudden plunge into eternal darkness. When it comes to the formation of black holes, there are two primary categories: stellar-mass black holes and supermassive black holes. Stellar-mass black holes, ranging from three to dozens of solar masses, often originate from the explosive aftermath of a massive star going supernova. The remnants collapse into a core that slips below its Schwarzschild radius due to its overwhelming mass. On a grander scale, supermassive black holes, spanning from hundreds of thousands to billions of solar masses, inhabit the centers of galaxies, including our own Milky Way. The formation of these colossal entities remains a cosmic mystery, likely intertwined with the early stages of galaxy development. Recent discoveries have unveiled a new class of black holes—intermediate black holes—bridging the size gap between stellar and supermassive variants. There's also speculation about black holes existing on a minuscule, subatomic scale, potentially created through high-energy collisions within particle accelerators. However, direct evidence for these theories is yet to emerge. One common misconception dispelled by physics is that black holes, regardless of size, are not unstoppable forces engulfing everything in their path. Their threat is confined to the proximity of their Schwarzschild radius. Microscopic black holes, if they exist, would decay rapidly due to Hawking radiation, posing no danger. This radiation, theorized by physicist Stephen Hawking, emerges from the constant creation and annihilation of virtual particles near the event horizon, causing the black hole to shrink until it vanishes. In contrast, supermassive black holes, residing at the hearts of galaxies, boast a lifespan many orders of magnitude longer than the current age of the universe. Yet, the vastness of space ensures that encounters with these cosmic behemoths remain exceedingly rare, making them a captivating but distant aspect of our cosmic landscape. In conclusion, black holes, with their invisible allure, challenge our understanding of the cosmos. By grasping the fundamentals of their formation, sizes, and eventual decay, we can demystify these cosmic enigmas and appreciate the complexity of our universe.
By vivian kagwiria4 months ago in Earth